Site reviewed Jan 2013, Designed, produced and maintainAed by Bhavani Shankar Kodali MD

Site reviewed Jan 2018, Designed, produced and maintained by Bhavani Shankar Kodali MDWebsite reviewed in British Journal of Anesthesia (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0007091217375451)

What you are going to witness here is a website containing several animations. This may be the first of its kind. It is my firm belief that animations facilitate easy understanding. Basic concepts of pain during childbirth and pain relief are discussed with picture animations to facilitate easy understanding. The website is divided into several sections as shown in the 'Contents'. You can browse through from one section to the subsequent section methodically. Otherwise, you can select the section you desire to study. The purpose of this website is to provide information about childbirth pain relief methods that use medications such as the popularly known 'labor epidural anesthesia'. There are methods, however, that do not use medications and facilitate natural childbirth.

A 'section' that explains these methods is included. There is also a section on cesarean delivery. Changes will be made to the website periodically to enhance presentation and update material.
Introduction:
The first pain-free childbirth using regional anesthesia was reported in July of 1900. Since then, a firm and dedicated commitment of anesthesiologists and professional societies such as the 'Society of Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology (SOAP) in the last century have led to tremendous advances in regional anesthesia to provide safe pain-free delivery to requesting expectant mothers. New regional anesthesia techniques, variety of newer medications and methods of administration, and dedicated obstetric anesthesia and nursing care teams have made pain-free childbirth with regional anesthesia a safe option for expectant mothers in this century. Each year, approximately over 2 million mothers use epidural analgesia to deliver their babies. Over 70% of pregnant women at our Institute opt for epidural analgesia for childbirth. The national rate of epidural analgesia vary between 51 to 70%.
It is fortunate that in this era, pain relief during labor and delivery is an accepted part of the childbirthing process. The American College of Obstetric and Gynecology, in their committee opinion # 118, summarize pain relief during childbirth as follows: "Labor results in severe pain for many women. There is no other circumstance where it is considered acceptable for a person to experience severe pain, amenable to safe intervention, while under a physician's care. Maternal request is a sufficient justification for pain relief during labor." The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology also believes that "of the various pharmacological methods used for pain relief during labor and delivery, the lumbar epidural block is the most effective and least depressant, allowing for an alert, participating mother."
It is expected that you must consult your care providers and get your questions adequately answered before making final planning of your childbirth.
Definitions:
Analgesia is full or partial relief of painful sensations.
Anesthesia is usually considered to be a more intense blockage of all sensations including muscle movement.